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STATE OF NEW YORK. 




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ADDRESS 



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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, 



r.\ STATK (OXVEXTIOX ASSKMIU.KD, 



TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 



iW the first time in history the spectacle has been presented 
to the World of a People self-governing and self-governed. 
The dream of statesmen, a form of government based upon the 
principle of the greatest good for the greatest nnmber, has been 
realized. Its liberal policy has invited to itself, and moulded 
iiito a wide and Christian nationality, the oppressed of all lands, 
who have sought luide]' its mild rule that field for individual 
energy which is denied in the countries of the Old World. 
The freedom of tlie individual, cramped in other lands by 
the strong hand of poAver Imsed on class and privilege, has 
made America tlie marvel of tlie •world. The broad and gener- 
ous spirit which pervades her institutions, has, in less than a 
Century, raised her to a proud place in the family of nations; 
Iter prosperity lias exceeded that of all countries in all times, 
and a future grandeur is unfolding which only inspiration can 
measure or foretell. 

In the inidst of this prosperity, in the hour of triumph, when 



the wealth of the country was oulj to be measured by the power 
of foreign natious to take of its surplus — when the centre of 
trade was to be moved across the ocean and fixed upon these 
sliores, and tlie domination which the food-producing nation 
always exerts over the food-consuming nations, was to begin — 
. a moral domination to be exercised in the interest of all man- 
kind — a rebellion springs up and threatens tlie overthrow of the 
institutions by which this prosperity has been secured, and by 
M'hicli alone it can be maintained. 

Under old and feudal systems, all tlic rebellions against 
constituted authority were in the interest of tlie governed, and 
were intended to wrest from arbitrary power something of the 
rights which had been wrung from weakness and ignorance by 
the strong hand. 

The American Revolution, wliicli partly freed the Colonies, 
in 1776, from the feudal system, and which established this 
nation on the broad and firm base of democratic and repre- 
sentative government, was a revolution in the sacred name of 
liberty. 

The present rebellion, the most gigantic in power and the 
most portentous in results, which the world has yet seen, aims 
to break down the form and destroy the substance of that 
liberty secured to us at great cost and by severe trials. It has 
been left to American citizens to commit a crime so great that 
history has no parallel for it — the rebellion of a large portion 
of the people against their own self-instituted and self-estal> 
lished rule — ^the rebellion of a democi'acy against popular 
government. 

For, however opinions may differ as to the origin and causds of 
the rebellion, it is now clear, and admitted by its le^lders, that its 
i-eal object is to establish a stronger form of government than a 
i-epublic. 

It is only now, in tin's period of great civil wal', that the nation 



3 



k fully realizing the beauty and tlie strength of that system 
of polity which their forefathers perfected, and that they begin 
to understand its power and its flexibility. The most careful of 
the observers of its progress were unaware of its hidden forces 
which are yet comparatively as untested and unknown as the 
hidden powers of the electric fluid, or the force of steam. 

A rebellion against the principle of democracy— a rebel- 
lion against the law of representative government — is a rebellion 
against mankind itself In the success or destruction of the 
rebellion are involved not the happiness of America only— nc)t 
the liberties of America only — but the peace and welfare of a 
wo]-ld. 

If this nation falter in its hard but necessary task ; if this 
Govei'nment fail, the progress of humanity is arrested, civiliza- 
tion is turned back upon itself, and another night, like that of 
the middle ages, will close dark and gloomy upon mankind — for 
progress is the law of life ; forward to light, liberty, and happi- 
ness ; or, backward to darkness, slavery, and misery. 

The world's battle-ground is here. 

The great cause for which we are banded together is the 
the cause of liberty, the cause of democracy, the cause of civili- 
zation. 

For this we associate ourselves as a Loyal Katioxal League, 

PLEDGED TO LNCONDITIONAL LOYALTY TO THE GOVERNMENT, tO au 
IXWAVEKING SUPPOET OF ITS EFFORT TO SUPPRESS THE REBELLIOX, 
AND TO SPAKE NO ENDEAVOR TO MAINTAIN UNIMPAIRED THE NA- 
TIONAL UNITY BOTH IN PRINCIPLE AND TERRITORIAL BOUNDARY, 

For THIS we dixlare our object to be to bind together all 

LOYAL MEN OF ALL TRADES AND PROFESSIONS IN A COMMON UnION 
TO MAINTAIN THE POWER, GLORY, AND INTEGRITY OF THIS NATION. 

For this we are joined, hand in hand, and heart to lieart, in 
connnon brotherhood ; and for this we proclaim our ]iriiiciples 
boldly and openly, that all may hear. 



* AVliero tyranny crashes out the first manifestations of inch 
vidiial expression, and checks every attempt to widen the field 
of individx;al freedom, secret organizations are wise and just. In 
the past they have largely aided the eanse of mankind. In the 
Border and Southern States, where armed authority has wrested 
the government from the popular grasp, tliey are necessary, 
But here, on the soil of freedom, loyalty needs no disguises, 
Loyalty should be as open as Cln-istianity. Liberty does not 
thrive in the twilight or the dark— slie loves the broad sunlight, 
and the brightness of tlie day. What said the Roman orator, 
when Cataline armed against his country^ — "Let what each man 
thinks concerning the Eepublic be inscribed on liis forehead/' 

To be loyal to our country, to proclaim ourselves at all times, 
and in all places. x\mericans — loyal Americans — what loftier 
privilege ? The ancient Eoman held no title prouder, claimed 
no honor higher, as he journeyed over the vast conquests of the 
Imperial city, than that of a Eoman citizen — " Clvis liomanu-s 
Sumy How nnu-h mure noble the title of American citizen-— 
heir to an undivided portion in the lieritage of libei'ty won by 
the energies, and first consecrated by the blood of our fiithers, 
and now doubly dear to us that its fertile soil is moistened and 
enriched by the heart's blood of our brothers aiul our sons I 

"Why is it that we are here i — Avhy do we gather from all 
parts of this great commonwealth, to renew to each other, in 
the face of all mankind, our sacred pledge \ Whj' are Ave thus 
formed into a Loyal Band, counted and numbered and enrolled? 

Because the God of Xations has decreed that nations, like 
individuals, shall be the architects of their own happiness or the 
authors of their own ruin ; because, while the keepers of this 
Paradise Avere asleep, the Serpent, the Copperhead Treason, hmr 
crept into this Eden. 



* This paragraph stricken out by vote of the Convention, Utica, 26 May, repre- 
sentatives of secret Leagues being present. 



BecauBe in the day of our pride we Imve as a nation held ma- 
terial prosperity too dear, and counted Xational honor too 
cheap; becanse we liave neglected the study of the law of life, 
and permitted error to grow unheeded into gigantic proportions; 
heeause we liave blinded our eyes to the lieresies whieli have 
grown up like ill weeds, until they threaten to choke out the 
healthy growth of true opinion. Because wliile open treason 
has sprung to arms, hidden treason and secret disloyal organiza- 
tions seek to paralyze tlie liand wiiich would strike it down. 
Because wliile the material forces of liberty and slavery are 
arrayed in deadly strife, the one marshaled under the banner 
of law aud democratic government, and the other under despot- 
ism and aristocratic privilege, a contest goes on at home in the 
moral world. 

The held of battle is ncjt the only Held on which the merits of 
this M'ar must be decided ; the forum and the hearth-stone are 
the scenes of a no less momentous contest. 

The struggle is for the possession of tlie national mind as well 
as of the national arm. Truth and ovvov are contending for the 
mastery. 

A Major-General in the army, writing of the pledge of the 
Loyal Xatioxal League, happily remarked, '"that '"it does not 
'"' differ substantially from the one ^vhich I took some time since, 
'" and in a more formal and solemn manner even than is pro- 
'• posed by the League, ami which I share with a million others — 
'' the oath of the army to bear true faith and allegiance to the 
''United States of America, and to serve them honestly and 
'• faithfully against all their enemies and opposers whomsoever, 

" Mav not those who have taken this oath be regarded as 
'' virtually members of the Loyal JSTatioxaL League, active 
" members, who to fulfill their pledge, have given up nearly all 
'• of their personal liberty, and most of whom are now sacrific- 
'• ing the material interests of themselves and families V' 

Our brave soldiers in the field are indeed the active members 



of om- League, but to as also there is a struggle as deadly and 
]nore momentous in its consequences than theirs. 

How shall we best perform that duty — that patriotic duty im- 
posed upon us hy the voluntary pledge we have assumed ? 

For tins we are gatliered here, and for this we now address 
all loyal men. We are to set forth and uphold and maintain 
the principle on which this Government was founded, and the 
right of self-government and democratic representative rnle, 
We are to see that the truth is brought to the door of every 
man, rich or poor, educated or ignorant, in tlie length and 
breadth of this land. By public speeches, lectures, and ad- 
dresses, by pri\ate conversation, by the careful and thorough 
distribution of loyal documents, and by the sj)read of all loyal 
journals, regardless of their special party proclivities, Ave are to 
encourage this people through sacrifice and hardships, at the cost 
of all that God in his boundless bounty has given them, of all 
that they have gained by heritage, or earned by their own hard 
and weary toil, to stand firm and steadfast to the cause which 
they have espoused — even to the laying down of life itself on 
the altar of patriotism and of duty. 

This is no light task. It demands the aid of the purest and 
brightest intellects, the earnest sympathy of the warmest hearts, 
and the steady intelligent effort of every member of the League. 
It is labor to which we pledge ourselves — it is '' to spare no 
eftbrt " that we are solemnly engaged. The orator in the croAA'ded 
square, the lecturer in the x^ublic hall, tlie divine from his desk, 
the student in his closet, must prepare and set forth the truth. 
Art, in its many forms and beauties, must lend its aid, and the 
breath of song must wake to new and burning heat the smould- 
ering embers of patriotic fire. 

Much has been done by all these forces ; nmch is daily doing 
but concentration is needed to blend in one resistless force all 
these scattered elements of power. 

History records what great results have been reached by in- 
dividual and combined efforts. A few monks travelling on foot 



centuries before printing and railroads and steamboats and the 
telegraph, bj personal appeal to the Christian heart of the mid- 
dleages, aroused all Europe to an armed crusade and wearv 
marches over unknown lauds to redeem the Holy Sepulchre. - 

Within the memory of men now living a still more marked 
instance of the power of organization has been witnessed. 

In 1S30, shortly after the appeal of the manufacturers had 
been rejected by the British Parliament bv a vote of 301 to 
172, the Anti-Corn Law League was formed. A central office 
was established at Manchester with numerous branches. Talent 
of every kind was at once employed, and by the well-directed 
efforts of the League, in a few years a Parliament was elected 
in support of its views, and the great connnoner. then prime 
minister, gave his adhesion to its opinions. 

AYhen such a result was attained by an organizatioii founded 
on a principle of political economy, what may not be reached 
by the Loyal Xatioxai. League based on loyalty to democratic 
government, and pledged to maintain the Jiational unity and 
the national life i 

We urgCj tliereforCj a thorough organization in eVery State^ 
not by political but by local divisions, so that the color of sus= 
picion of partisan motives may not rest upon ^t. Existing 
parties may continue or new be formed. Mendjers of the 
League will exercise their individual opinion, and cast their vote 
as conscience directs ; but the League isself will look beyond 
parties to the welfare of the people, of which parties are but 
parts. Its duty will be to raise and purify, to instruct and 
encourage the body politic itself, and so doing to lift up all 
parties to a higher moral standard. 

To effect this, concentration is necessary. Laiion is necessary; 
The LoYAT. Xatioxal League urges upon the Leagues in the 
State \\hich are not formed under its auspices, (known to be 
but few in number) to adopt its pledge and its title, and they 
respectfully submit the same to all organizations in other States 
of a similar nature; So will all loyalty be enrolled tor cou'^ 



8 



sistent eftbrt, and treason will creep back into it^^ liiding places, 
cowed into insignificance and disgrace. 

A League, larsre or small, should Le at once formed in everv 
town, to receive and distribute documents and to secure subscrip- 
tions to loyal journals. A county organization sliould be 
formed in every county to provide for sucli distribution, to 
secure the needed funds, and to arrange for public addresses at 
stated periods and at principal places. And a general State 
Council should be established to super \ise and harmonize the 
action of the different organizations, and to direct their efforts. 
This important body should be composed of men of the greatest 
purity of character, the inost marked intellectual ability, and the 
loftiest patriotism. 

The LoYAi. Publication Societiks in Xew Y()r]^, Boston, and 
Philadelphia, which include in their publisliing committees some 
of the best literary talent of the country, provide a ready nieaii;^ 
for an important part of the work thus laid down. It is for the 
LoTAL N^ATioNAL League to givc a practical result to their able 
patriotic labor. 

Above all, we urge on every iiidi\idual member to act faith- 
fnlly up to the pledge he has taken. At all times and in all 
places to proclaim his loyalty, and to uphold the honor of this 
Government — -in every maimer to support its authority and con- 
demn its assailants, relying always on that Proxidence which 
blesses honest labor and crowns it with success. When each 
man has performed his 'Vvhole duty, he may fold his hands in the 
consciousness that he has not been less faithful nor less deserving 
of the honor of freedom than the soldier in the field. 

Thus may he be secure that when his last hour shall coniCj 
he will feel satisfaction that his life has not been all in vain, in 
that, in the day of trial and adversity, he was faithful to the 
cause of country, and libert}', and law, and that his children 
will remember him with pride as one who deserved well of the 
Kepublic. 



